Donations delivered to Marine Corps base

After the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council’s National Day of

Prayer breakfast on May 1, Margo Allen and I loaded some 22 file

boxes and trash bags of goods donated by Daily Pilot readers, members

of local churches, temples and synagogues, Interact clubs from

Saddleback and Garden Grove High schools in my sport utility vehicle

for delivery to the Marines and their families at the Twenty-nine

Palms Marine Corps base.

The vehicle was loaded from floor to ceiling, from front to back

with thousands of dollars worth of phone cards, eye drops, suntan

lotion, toothpaste, batteries, lip balm, beef jerky, peanuts, grocery

coupons, blank post cards, letters of support, crossword puzzles and

books and magazines.

“Those who dropped off the donations on Saturday, April 26, were

most appreciative for the opportunity to support the Marines and

their families and were thankful the council and Daily Pilot

organized the drive,” stated Jaimie Day, Interfaith Council vice

president, who with Susan Munsell and Allen sorted out the donated

items on collection day.

At Twenty-nine Palms, I was greeted by Beverly Miller in a white

government pickup truck to which we transferred the donated items,

filling the cargo area and the passenger side of the cab.

“The Marines and their families are most appreciative of the

donations and support,” Miller said.

In checking with the Adopt-A-Family coordinator at the Twenty-nine

Palms Chamber of Commerce, I found that they had received several

calls from Daily Pilot readers offering to adopt families, but

finding that the distance between the base and our area was a

problem. And yes, Daily Pilot readers did send in donations to the

Operation Enduring Family fund.

That’s what they still need, funds to help pay for housing, food

and child care costs. Checks may be written to MCCS General Support,

c/o Dennis Larson, P.O. Box 788150, MAAAGTF Training Command, MCAGCC,

Twenty-nine Palms, CA 92278. No amount is too small.

I join with the Marines and their families at Twentynine Palms in

saying thank you to all who cared and helped with Operation Enduring

Families and in other ways, to support of our troops and their

families.

OASIS OF COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE

At the meeting of Computer Friends of Oasis on May 14, Tom

Underhill of Creative Continuum will present a program on “Scanning

and Photo Retouching Basics.”

This program is designed for beginner to advanced computer users.

Now is a good chance to learn tips and tricks from a professional who

has more than 5,000 scans under his belt and probably more than

10,000 enhanced photographs. Topics to be covered include image

enhancement and basic photographic retouching techniques.

The meeting begins at 1 a.m. at the Oasis Senior Center, 800

Marguerite Ave., Corona del Mar. Coffee and cookies will be served

after the presentation.

EXCELLENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Congratulations to Newport Beach resident and owner of four store

Discount Dance Supply Rhonda Tolar, who received the “Excellence in

Entrepreneurship” from the Orange County Business Journal. Tolar is

fleet captain at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, where she

coordinates races and co-produced their club musical, “Showboat.”

MOTHER’S DAY

Let’s make Mother’s Day a happy day for all mothers.

I was surprised a few years ago when I coordinated a brunch at the

Newport Center Marriott for 120 older mothers who would have

celebrated Mother’s Day alone except for the group that sponsored the

brunch.

Most of the mothers came from local nursing homes, some in

wheelchairs and others with oxygen tanks at their sides. They enjoyed

the brunch, the food, the attention of the Marriott staff and the

entertainment provided by Newport Beach’s Mr. Entertainment, Jim

Roberts.

Share part of your Mother’s Day with that neighbor, the mother

from church or the one you know in the nursing home. Your attention

to them will make their day.

WORTH REPEATING

Provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith

Council:

“In order to keep a true perspective of one’s importance, everyone

should have a dog that will worship them and a cat that will ignore

them.”

-- Dereke Bruce

SERVICE CLUB

MEETINGS THIS WEEK

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 40-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club will

meet at Five Crowns (newportbeachsunriserotary.org/ index.htm).

6:30 p.m. The Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club will meet at

the Costa Mesa Country Club.

WEDNESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 20-member South Coast Metro Rotary Club will meet

at the Center Club (www.southcoastmet rorotary.org); and the Newport

Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at the University Athletic Club.

Noon: The 40-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast will meet at

Santa Ana Country Club for the A.C.E. Award.

6 p.m.: The 60-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa will meet at

the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for the city of Newport Beach Track

Awards presentation.

THURSDAY

7 a.m. The 20-plus member Costa Mesa-Orange Costa Breakfast Lions

Club will meet at Mimi’s to hear me discuss my trip to China.

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club will meet at the

Holiday Inn; the 50-member Newport Beach-Corona del Mar Kiwanis Club

will meet at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club (www.kiwanis.org/club/

costamesa); the 80-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor will meet

at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum for the A.C.E. Awards; and the

100-member Newport-Irvine Rotary Club will meet at the Atrium Hotel

to hear an update on the Griffith Observatory Restoration.

(www.nirotary.org).

* COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Saturdays in the Daily Pilot.

Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (949)

660-8667; e-mail to [email protected] or by mail to 2082 S.E. Bristol,

Suite 201, Newport Beach, CA 92660-1740.